According to a phone call received today from the Governor's Office there will be representatives from FEMA and Rebuild Iowa visiting Stuart late this week to re-evaluate this area.  They are well aware that most experienced subterranean/basement damages.  There were no promises of help but they are willing to re-evaluate the situation here.

They additionally requested that those people whose insurance did not cover the damage, insurance that did not cover all the damage or who had unmet needs call FEMA and pre-register for assistance.  Doing so will give them a better understanding of the problems many face.

If/when the status changes for this area you will be registered for assistance.

To pre-register call the FEMA Individual Assistance Program at 1-800-621-3362.

Remember, your tax dollars fund FEMA, so if you have a need pre-register.

www.zimbio.com/City+of+Plattsburgh+News

A recent ruling by an arbitrator nets a City of Plattsburgh union – yet another win.

Sources close to City Hall say the union that represents City of Plattsburgh firefighters received word late last week – that an arbitrator ruled in their favor over a grievance that was filed because firefighters were being denied leave time that was granted to them under their current union contract.

Edmund Sanderson, who is a city Firefighter and the point-man on the grievance writing committee for the City Fire Department, is believed to have written the grievance that netted the union their win against the city.

Sanderson, a Democrat, became a target of Republican Mayor Donald Kasprzak when he took office in 2007.  Kasprzak demoted Sanderson from his position as Day Officer as part of the budget cuts in 2007.  Sanderson, who filed a grievance - to fight the demotion - acted as his own legal counsel when the grievance went to an arbitration hearing.  At the hearing Sanderson’s own Union President testified against him – but to no avail.  The arbitrator ruled in Sanderson’s favor and reinstated him to the position of Day-Officer.  The arbitrator also awarded Sanderson full back pay and benefits that were lost during the period he was demoted.

Kasprzak has repeatedly made public statements about petty grievances filed by City of Plattsburgh labor unions.  However, he has been unsuccessful at wining a single arbitration since he took office in 2007 – despite his hiring of high-powered out-of-town law firms to defend the city. 

I received a email from a resident who was given conflicting information from their insurance company about the coverage available for water damage cleanup.  The received a phone call from someone saying they represent their insurance company offering them several phone numbers to have all the water damage cleaned, repairs done and giving a 5 year warranty against the possibility of further water damage.  No specifics were given on what this miracle cure is that has a 5 year warranty.  Luckily the resident had already talked to their local adjuster and knew that their insurance did not cover the damage.  If they had not known this before the call they would have assumed that it was covered and the insurance would pay the bill.  They would then have been liable for the clean up bill from this company when the insurance refused coverage.

Please make sure that you have talked to your local adjuster before obligating yourself to any outside help.

Well, I sure did not expect 5+ inches of rain last night and neither did my basement.  At 3am I had a foot of water and by 6 am it was up to two feet.  At least by then the lightning and rain had stopped and the electricity was back on.  After stretching the hose out to the street (no storm sewers here) and wading around setting the pump in the basement I started it pumping by 6:15 am.  It is now 1:15 pm and it has been pumping for 7 hours and it has only gone down 4 inches.  That tells me that water is still coming in that tile.  With a 500 gph pump I had hoped that it would be down further by now.  It looks like I am going to have to dig up that old tile line and remove it for some distance south of the house.  This ought to be so much fun since all the utilities enter the house in the same place.  This is not a job I am looking forward to.

Anyone else get a surprise this morning?

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Hillsboro residents will vote again on a proposed mill levy increase for the community recreation district.

Proponents submitted a petition with 32 signatures to city commissioners Monday requesting that the question appear on the city’s General Election ballot in November.

City commissioners rejected a request July 7 from the Hillsboro Recreation District to allow the question to appear on the ballot.  State law allows residents to petition for a vote. 

In the June election, Hillsboro voters narrowly defeated a six-mill tax increase for the city’s Community Recreation District by a 137-117 margin. A simple majority was needed for passage. The same question will be asked again in November.

Earlier this month, by a 3-2 vote, the commissioners denied putting the matter to a second  vote. Commissioners Charlie Stock, Lorraine Tibert and Kyle Stern voted no. Commissioners Jeff Nelson and Kevin Burg voted yes.

The rec district needed to gather 29 signatures of city residents to request a second vote, equal to five percent of the voters in the last general election.

Without the additional tax revenue, Buzick said the board “would have to discuss cutting costs, prioritizing future programs, reducing or eliminating most of the programs — and more than likely the director position.”

Only 250 people cast votes in the June city election. A larger voter turnout is likely in the fall, Buzick and other board member reasoned.

City voters created the rec district  two years ago and granted a 2.5 mill levy to provide operating revenue, about $5,000 a year in tax dollars. State law allows the rec district board to ask voters to supplement that mill levy with an additional six mills, if a majority of voters approve.

The rec district hopes to increase funding through the 8.5 mill levy to $17,000.  Funding is in place for 2008 with a budget of $27,000, using tax dollars, cash reserves, participation fees and outside donations from city sales tax, the park board, the school district and other donors. Funding for 2009 remains uncertain if the mill levy increase were to fail again.

A change of mind.

Packed into a hot, humid meeting room at city hall Monday night, a contingent of Hillsboro residents lobbied city commissioners for answers about a proposed new water treatment plant and partnership with Traill Rural Water and the City of Mayville.

By the end of the two-hour meeting, those in attendance agreed the calm, cool discussion gave residents — and commissioners — “a better grasp of the issue.” 

Ten residents came armed with pointed questions. Commissioners, TRW officials and the project’s engineer responded with answers and explanations — information that will now be shared with all residents — in a direct mailing.

With three special assessments being added to tax bills in 2007, 2008 and 2009, city property owners are “panicky” about utility rate increases, resident Mickey Hams explained. Monday’s meeting seemed to calm some fears and put to rest some rumors — including the one about another special assessment.

Commissioners were asked no less than four times Monday night if a new water plant would be paid for with special assessments. The answer: NO. User fees will cover the cost of water, maintenance, operations and debt retirement.

“People need to know that,” resident Marlene Rude said.

“Spread the word,” commissioners urged.

Based on the positive response from audience members Monday night, commissioners affirmed a plan to proceed without a city-wide vote on a new water plant. A recently passed ordinance made the vote unnecessary but at least two commissioners had second thoughts about that going into Monday’s meeting. As information was shared and questions answered, those in attendance — residents and commissioners alike — admitted changing their minds about opposing the proposed treatment plant, a joint venture with Traill Rural Water Users.

“I’ve changed my mind — with the new information I’ve heard tonight,” commissioner Kyle Stern.

He noted how residents seemed to accept the proposal “once they had all the information.”

The commission took a closer look at the vote or no-vote options at the request of commissioner Charlie Stock. The newly-seated commissioner opened the discussion, saying, “There may be something we need to do, maybe not this project. We need to look into this and not say ‘no’ blindly or ‘yes’ blindly.”

City supt. Jim Anderson commented, “We’ve tried to find the most economical, practical way of get better quality water.”

Anderson recalled how a 1999 water study offered costly proposals to replace the city’s 1965 vintage water treatment plant that were “not feasible” at the time.

“We can afford to do this,” Anderson said of the regional water system plan with Traill Rural Water and the City of Mayville.

What makes the proposal so attractive is the potential for 70 percent federal funding, reducing Hillsboro’s share of an estimated $22.4  million project to $2.4 million. Mayville’s share is pegged at $1.1 million while TRW would pay $3.2 million toward the plan. If Hillsboro were to remain exclusively a municipal water system, it would not qualify for any grant funding.

While the grant funding is not guaranteed, TRW officials feel confident that the state water commission will continue its practice of funding  projects through to completion, in this case — a new treatment plant in Hillsboro, which could be up to five years away.

Any agreement with TRW and Mayville would include a clause that shelved the project if grant funding failed to materialize, commissioners have insisted.

Commissioners agree that Hillsboro residents need to be better informed about the project specifications, cost estimates, financing plans and projected rates. A direct mailing to all city water customers was approved by the commission at the end of Monday’s meeting. Much of the information was previously presented in a full-page ad in the May 30 Hillsboro Banner and at a public meeting June 5. Only two residents — other than city employees and commissioners — attended the meeting.

Up to now, the proposal “flew under the radar,”  commented new city commissioner Charlie Stock. “We all missed it — me included.”

“Now people have taken a significant interest,” he added.

People at Monday’s meeting wanted to know what they would be paying for water from the new plant.

Commissioners had relied on  cost estimates provided by Advanced Engineering that profiled a typical user consuming 7,500 gallons per month from the new plant, generating an estimated bill of $44 a month, compared to $16 under the existing rates.

Charles Vein, president of AE2S, expanded those estimates, listing ranges from 1,000 to 10,0000 gallons. The cost per month would range from $31 to $49 with those amounts.

The proposed rate schedule has users paying a higher base rate of $22.47 compared to $6.60 and a lower volume charge. The rates are “not set in stone,” said Anderson. The base rate could be reduced and the per-gallon charge hiked, he said.

By comparison, average new rates for Traill Rural Water Users and City of Mayville customers (who will also join the regional system) are expected to range from $98 to $65, Vein noted.

Hillsboro water rates have traditionally been low — “Too cheap,” interjected city auditor Lesley Connelly.

“Hillsboro has been spoiled,” commented resident Mickey Hams.

New rates could kick in before the plant is built, suggested commission president Kevin Burg. “The sooner the better,” he said. “We’ll be farther ahead paying for it and delays cost more money.”

For the past nine months, the city and Traill Rural Water Users have but no thanks, we’d still have an old plant that would need to be addressed.”

“That’s why we’re here,” said Anderson. “Twenty years ago nobody said ‘let’s plan ahead’.”

Resident Stacey Nosbusch commented that major city projects seem to be “put off and put off and put off. It’s got to be done.”

“It’s the unfortunate reality,”  Burg said. He predicted the plant could continue to serve the city for another five years but beyond that was “iffy.”

If it takes five years to complete a new plant, Burg said, now is the time to start. “Every year you wait costs you money.”

Burg said the project will require “a leap of faith” by the city and its residents.  “We understand residents being concerned.”

Olson and his board are seeking a commitment from the City of Hillsboro. That’s expected to come once a “carefully worded” joint powers agreement is negotiated. City attorney John Juelson said work has already started on the document. Mayville and TRW have already signed one.

The aim of the agreement is to allow all three entities “to benefit but not to profit” from the regional system, explained Burg.

The Little Ones

[googlevideo=http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=5304562331276607640&hl=de]

Ava Leigh

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3092997769906095450&hl=en]

Sam Sparro gibt eine schöne schwule 90's Zugabe

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Owners of a new home asked the Hillsboro city commission Monday to help fix a faulty sewer line.

Dave and Jody Schill built a new home at 218 2nd St. NE in 2006 and have had the sewer back up in their basement five times — including once on Christmas Eve. The Schills said the city has been very helpful in responding to their repeated emergencies — but they’ve also been patient in dealing with the shared problem. 

A potential fix for the problematic pipe would cost tens of thousands of dollars to rip up a block-long portion of 2nd Street NE,  replace the service line to the city’s main and re-pave the street — all at the homeowner’s expense.

A search for a solution to the problem revealed an unusual configuration of sewer lines in Schill’s neighborhood. Typically, a home is connected to a service line that leads to a sewer main, usually in an alley, boulevard or street. Homeowners are responsible to maintain the service line, which can be as short as 10 feet or as long as 200, explained city supt. Jim Anderson.

In the case of the Schills’ house, the service line runs from his house south on 2nd St. to 2nd Ave., more than 250 feet. The Schill house is the only one linked to the long service line, which could be four to six inches in diameter, Anderson estimated. About 50 feet from the main, plumbers have detected an obstruction, probably a shifted or crumbled line, Anderson said.

Schill said his home insurance policy will only cover repairs to the line from his house to the street, not to the main.

Schill referred in jest to the sewer line he “owns” under the street.

City commissioner Charlie Stock suggested that the city pay for a company to inspect the line with a camera to determine the precise problem and devise a solution with that information. Supt. Anderson said that Jet-Way was schedule to do work in town soon and would be able to do the job.

The city has suggested that if the line must be replaced it could be done in the boulevard, rather than the street, to reduce the cost of the work.

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

One Hillsboro commissioner back-pedaled Monday on a plan to form a partnership between the city and Traill Rural Water Users.

On a 3-1 vote, commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance allowing the city to negotiate a joint powers agreement with TRW and form a regional water system, complete with a new water treatment plant for the city.

Commissioner Jeff Nelson voted no, suggesting residents “can’t afford” a new water plant, along with other city-wide improvement projects either completed in recent years or now under construction. 

New city commissioner Charlie Stock abstained from the second vote, repeating his assertion he wasn’t “educated” enough on the issue.

As proposed, the joint powers agreement — which is still being written — would cover the details of the city buying water transmitted from Traill Rural Waters’ wellfield, treating the raw water for its own use and selling the excess processed water back to TRW.  If seen through to completion, the pending deal would yield a new water treatment plant for the city.

The routine second reading was required for the proposed ordinance to become law.

Commissioner Nelson urged the commission to reconsider the proposed plan with Traill Rural Water to form a regional water supply system. He suggested that the city instead implement a $10 per month surcharge on water bills and set aside the proceeds (about $100,000 a year) to construct a new plant in 10 years.

The city already levies a $5 per month surcharge to fund on-going upgrades to the water distribution system.

Nelson argued that the cost of recent improvements to the city’s infrastructure have made a “Cadillac” water treatment plant too expensive for city residents to afford.

Under the plan with TRW, Hillsboro could build a $7.3 million membrane softening plant and pay only $2.4 million thanks to $5.6 million in potential grant funding. Additional costs related to wellfield development and transmission lines could be covered by grants as well.

Commissioner Nelson cited the special assessment for the 2006 water main project and the anticipated special assessments for the 2007 street project and the 2008 Hwy. 200 reconstruction project as a burden on local residents.

The 2006 project will cost each property owner or “user unit” $1,678.83 in special assessments levied over 15 years, about $130 a year with interest. (A “user unit” is classified as a single family residence as well as most nonresidential property in the city. Apartment houses with four or fewer units are considered a single user unit. For special assessment purposes, complexes with five to eight apartments are regarded as two user units; and nine to 12 apartments as three user units. The school’s property — elementary school, events center, high school, athletic fields and bus barn — was calculated as seven user units.)

The special assessment for 2007 street paving project has not been officially set but had been estimated by engineers at $400 per year for 12 years  (for a 100-foot lot). It would be applied to tax bills mailed in December.

This summer’s Hwy. 200 project will also be funded by special assessments, which would likely appear on the December 2009 tax bill. Special assessment estimates were about $160 per year for 15 years prior to the bids being opened. Bids for construction and engineering came in at $2.9 million, about $600,000 less than expected, so assessments could potentially be less.

The proposed water plant carries with it a projected water bill increase — from the current $16 a month for 7,500 gallons to $44 a month.

Nelson’s calculations suggest special assessments and new water fees totaling more than $1,000 a year for a typical resident.

Financing the proposed water treatment plant would not be done as a special assessment, city officials and engineers have calculated. Rather, the cost of constructing a new, larger plant would be factored into the customer’s monthly bill.

Construction of a new plant would be two to five years in the future, city and TRW officials have speculated.

Nelson suggested the city could opt for a less expensive iron-manganese treatment process and build later. Commissioners had previously bypassed the iron-manganese removal method, opting for membrane softening and a better quality of water, preferred by their potential partners, Traill Rural Water.

Engineers’ estimates suggest an new iron-manganese removal plant would cost the city $2.7 million but would not qualify for any grant funding. It would cost city water users about the same as a membrane softening plant but would not produce better water.

By virtue of the city’s home rule charter, a vote of the people is not required to move forward with the planned relationship with TRW, the new ordinance explained.

Commissioner Stock, who is an attorney, is “not convinced” the city can or should build a new water plant without a public vote. City attorney John Juelson said the approved ordinance was based on an attorney general’s opinion.

Stock noted that the city is “not obligated” to complete the water project with Traill Rural Water. The ordinance uses the word “may,” he pointed out. “The jury is still out” on whether the proposed plant becomes a reality, he added.

Under the proposal on the table,  TRW’s three-phase plan with Hillsboro and Mayville creates a regional water supply system at a cost of $22.4 million. With grant funds, the local cost is reduced to an estimated $6.7 million with a portion paid by each of the three entities — $3.2 million for TRW, $1.1 million for Mayville and $2.4 million for Hillsboro.

TRW has already received more than $1 million for the first two phases of its improvements. The grant funding for Phase 3 — involving Hillsboro — has not been approved yet. TRW officials have indicated that other projects that have been funded for initial work have been funded through completion.

Last month, after several years of informal and formal discussions about joint projects, TRW officials  pressed Hillsboro city leaders to give a yes or no answer to the proposed partnership. The deadline was needed to allow TRW to move forward with designs that factor Hillsboro in or out of the regional system.

The City of Mayville has already signed a joint power agreement with TRW and will improve its existing water treatment plant and process water from TRW’s wells for its own use and for TRW customers.

As designed on paper, Hillsboro would replace its 43-year-old iron and manganese removal water treatment plant with a new plant using new membrane softening technology to greatly improve the quality of water delivered to customers. The proposed 1,000 gpm plant would split the treated water— 60  percent for city use and 40 percent for TRW.

City attorney John Juelson said that the wording of any joint powers agreement would allow the city to stop the project if grant funding was unavailable.

Juelson has suggested that the agreement list three conditions that must be met to make it enforceable — financing would have to be arranged, a purchase agreement for water would have to be finalized and grant funding would have to be provided “to satisfy the city.” Juelson said that the 70 percent grant funding has been advertised but city officials could — via a commission vote — decide that 65 percent, for example, “satisfied” the city.

Commission president Kevin Burg noted the new ordinance “allows the commission to proceed” but  doesn’t “bind the city” to any contract until the joint powers agreement is finalized by the commission.

With a 2 to 1 vote during Friday night's Special Meeting of the Library Board Katie Phippen was dismissed as the Library Director.  The last minute Special Meeting was called because the Library Board had to complete her performance appraisal and set the wages for the next fiscal year before June 30th.

In a phone interview yesterday Katie stated that she was blindsided with a list of complaints of which there had been no mention during the last year, at any of the regular board meetings, of any shortfalls in her performance.  Some of the complaints included: failing get up and leave her office to greet Friends of the Library who came in the door even when a librarian was at the desk, inappropriate work attire,  failing to deliver books to the Care Center and submitting fraudulent time sheets.

When Katie denied the fraudulent time sheets she was presented with a list of dates where she was told that she was not at work but her time sheets reflected that she was.  She countered with just because you drive by and do not see my car does not mean I am not working.  Just because you call and I am not here it does not mean I am not out doing library business.  My car has been in the shop a lot lately and was dropped off before work and picked up after the library closed.  I have also been walking to work to save gas.  Where is the proof that I was not working.

At the end of the board discussion of her performance Ms. Mendelson made a motion to dismiss Katie as the Library Director and the motion was seconded by Mrs. Sherman.

There were 4 board members present and they voted:

Foy - No

Mendelson - Yes

Sherman - Yes

Doud - Abstain

After her dismissal Katie still stayed at the meeting and fought to get a $.40 an hour raise for the other librarians.  They will now make $8.40 an hour after having worked there since 1995.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

As always these are my thoughts and mine alone.

This whole action strikes me as a repeat of last years trumpeted up charges presented at Katie's performance review.  It also makes me wonder which of the two who voted to dismiss her is waiting in the wings to step in and supposedly save the day since summer reading is scheduled for this afternoon.   Any one care to guess?

While I understand that no one is perfect I probably visit the library more often than just about anyone else in town including everyone of the board members combined.  I have watched Katie press for the transformation of the library into a pleasant, mildew, dust and mold free environment.  I have seen her scoop mud and water from the basement.  I have witnessed her shortfalls but I have also watched her work to address them and have noticed a marked improvement during this last year.  Something that the board has never bothered to do.  They show up for the meetings and raise cane about something they have not witnessed.

I made this same argument last year and reminded the board that they should at least read the Trustees Handbook on how they should manage a director.  Apparently it was a waste of breath.

I for one will miss Katie.  I would also like to tell my readers that I have personally thanked her for all her hard work.  For all the books I have asked her to chase down and borrow for me.  For not having to go home and suffer from asthma attacks.  For bringing a wide range of new books.  For increasing the patronage numbers to qualify for more state funding even though it is still being withheld because the building is not ADA compliant.  For transforming the library out of the dark ages into a place the town can be proud of.

Thanks again Katie.

Only one kind of ticket for hydrofoils in the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno

From June 7 it is possible to buy a unique ticket for any hydrofoil company linking all the isles of the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno including Capri, Sorrento, Ischia.

The ticket is available at the local ticket offices in the various ports. For timetables and costs please check www.navlib.it , www.snav.it , www.alilauro.it , www.volaviamare.it

]]> http://jacquesinlondon.wordpress.com/?p=351 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:00:01 +0000 Jacques http://jacquesinlondon.wordpress.com/?p=351 Gerade komme ich nach 3 Tagen Jobtraining aus Brighton zurück, rechtzeitig zum Halbfinale unserer Mannschaft. Um 7 kam ich zu Hause an, schnell umziehen, etwas frisch machen und dann um halb 8 aus dem Haus. Naim, unser Landlord, war zum Glück gerade hier, um ein Bett für unsere neue Mitbewohnerin aufzubauen, und er war dann auch so freunlich Robert und mich mit dem Auto ein Stück nach Shoreditch, zur Bar wo wir uns das Spiel angeschaut haben, mitzunehmen. Wir kamen gerade rechtzeitig zur Nationalhymne an, allerdings war unsere Stammbar schon total überfülllt und der hauseigene Securitytyp verkündete mtihilfe eines Megafons: "Guys, we are full!" Dann mussten wir eben ausnahmsweise in dem weniger beliebeten Laden nebenan schauen gehen, der an diesem Abend genau so brechend voll war: recht gemischtes Publikum, etwa 1/3 Türken und 2/3 Deutsche. Man trifft hier das ganze Jahr keine, aber wenn Deutschland spielt, stehen sie plötzlich alle neben dir and der Bar.

Unsere Freunde, mit denen wir uns trafen, schafften es auch nicht wesentlich früher zum besagten Ort und so schauten wir dann wenigsten das Spiel alle zusammen. Dämlich wie ich bin, hab ich gleich an der Bar dem ersten Engländer, der neben mir saß, mein halbes Bier aus dem Becher über den Rücken gekippt und es dann freundlicherweise mit meinem Deutschlandschweißband wieder von seinem Hocker gewischt...typisch Jacques...zum Glück hatte der seine Perle dabei und sah ziemlich verliebt aus, sonst hätte es bestimmt aufs Maul gegben...

Unter den Deutschlandfans war diesmal aber auch eine Schwedin namens Charlotte. Hierbei handelt es sich um unsere oben erwähnte neue Mitbewohnerin, die wir nach einem Monat anstrengendem Casting, beim zweiten Anlauf endlich gefunden haben. Sie wohnte bis dato eigentlich nur um die Ecke mit ihrem Freund zusammen aber irgendwie will sie da ausziehen, warum auch immer. Sie ist 24, arbeitet in der Modebranche, lebt seit 5 Jahren in London und ist super nett. War mit uns schon das ein oder andere Bierchen trinken, und eben auch beim Halbfinale. Jetzt gönnt sie sich gerade eine Woche Erholung zu Hause mit der Familie, den Schock, gegen Russland ausgeschieden zu sein, verdauen etc. Seitdem ist sie nun auch offizieller Deutschlandfan und wir hier im Flat 2 Deutsche und eine Schwedin, gutes Team soweit. Wir sind bereit fürs Finale und drücken Jogi und den Jungs fest die Daumen!

Charlotte aus Schweden

---------------------------

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Today, according to the Supreme Court, this phrase means that if you are not a felon or mentally ill, that you have an absolute right to keep a loaded operational, unlocked firearm in your home "for your protection."

The driving, fundamental premise of the majority's decision is that the the phrase "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State" is merely prefatory and does not define the right which is "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The argument is made linguistically and, purportedly, historically.

But if you think that the phrase "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State" is only a preface, devoid of impact, than you are free to ignore the actual historical context of the Second Amendment - and therefore its import.

Justice Scalia points out the historical context.

"... the history that the founding generation knew and that we have described above. That history showed that the way tyrants had eliminated a militia consisting of all the ablebodied men was not by banning the militia but simply by taking away the people’s arms, enabling a select militia or standing army to suppress political opponents. This is what had occurred in England that prompted codification of the right to have arms in the English Bill of Rights."

The founding fathers lived in a world of monarchical tyrants. In trying to create their free society they wanted to make sure that power wouldn't be concentrated in the hands of one or even a few persons who could then abridge the freedoms of the people. And yes, I understand that one of those freedoms would have been the use and ownership of guns - by white males. But we don't live in that time.

Since that time we have created a standing army and eliminated (except on the lunatic fringe) militia. Since that time we have created hand-held guns with dramatically greater fire-power and accuracy than the finest weapons of that age. Since that time we have moved from a primarily agrarian society to one in which we have metropolitan areas with over 10 million people. Few of us - in this country - live in the same fear of a tyrant ruling us as those folks who founded this country 232 years ago.

If we don't consider the historical context in which the Constitution was drafted, how can we make it relevant to our modern society. Handguns are an awful menace to our free society. Take a look at some statistics.

Comparison of U.S. gun homicides to other industrialized countries:
In 1998 (the most recent year for which this data has been compiled), handguns murdered:

• 373 people in Germany
• 151 people in Canada
• 57 people in Australia
• 19 people in Japan
• 54 people in England and Wales, and
• 11,789 people in the United States

(*Please note that these 1998 numbers account only for HOMICIDES, and do not include suicides, which comprise and even greater number of gun deaths, or unintentional shootings).

From the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence website: http://www.ichv.org/index.htm; http://www.ichv.org/Statistics.htm

Take the time to review the research.

http://www.lcav.org/

http://www.bradycampaign.org/issues/

I think you will agree that we need to rid our society of the negative impact of handguns.

Despite the optimism of the Brady Campaign I think that this Supreme Court decision can only be considered a step toward the further decay of safety and security in our society. (How many recent stories of gun violence have there been in our local papers; its too hard to count.) It also underscores, to me, how important each Presidential election is to future jurisprudence. One has to wonder how this decision goes if George Bush II was never elected president.

Justices Scalia (Reagan), Roberts (G.W. Bush), Thomas (G. Bush), Kennedy (Reagan) and Alito (G.W. Bush) voted in the majority.

Justices Stevens (Ford), Souter (G. Bush), Bader-Ginsberg (Clinton) and Breyer (Clinton) were in the minority.

drew

The true story about a 'trashedy'

The worldwide known story of the 'Emergenza rifiuti' ('garbage emergency') in Naples has been heading newspapers and websites all around the planet for almost a year or so. It is our strong will to clarify all this a little bit.

First of all, this is not what a proper emergency should look like; an emergency is something temporary, while this disaster is something that has been permanently keeping an entire region on its knees for many years now. When we usually speak to our friends and clients abroad the first question is: "why all that?". Well, we could briefly reply to such an elementary question saying that the main reason is represented by a fatal mixture between politicians' incapability in organizing an efficient system of garbage treatment and their links to the criminal interests of the so called Camorra who discovered in the past years that putting its tentacles in such a business could turn into something extremely profitable.

Looking now from the travellers' point of view we must here clarify again that no place of interest has never been affected significantly. That is to say that you will rarely find big amounts of garbage in Capri, Pompeii, Sorrento and even in Naples city centre. The real core of the problem is in the suburbs of Naples; little towns like Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Quarto, Portici, Torre del Greco, Torre Annunziata, San Giorgio a Cremano, Qualiano etc. have been tremendously suffering in the past years and their inhabitants got nearly accustomed to a situation more expectable in the third world rather than in a territory that is worldwide recognized as as the land of myth and ancient history.

So if you're planning a visit to Naples or its surroundings there will not be anything special threating your health or safety. Just remind the Neapolitans about the beauty and richness of their homeland...just in case they forgot !

Mr. Tom Smull from Restore All Saints has released an update on the construction progress.

Construction Update

Blog: http://carnellgallery.wordpress.com

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Hillsboro city commissioners took one step closer Monday to forming a partnership with Traill Rural Water Users. If consummated, the relationship would yield a new water treatment plant for the city.

Commissioners pitched three options to residents at a public meeting June 5 and only two residents showed up for the presentation. 

“I haven’t got a negative vibe from anybody out there,” said water commissioner Mike Lessard. “Once you explain it to them” residents accept the plan to build new and tap into 70 percent federal and state grant funding.

Commissioner Lorraine Tibert said, “People have been stopping me on the street saying, ‘I hope you go with Traill’.”

At Monday’s regular meeting, commissioners instructed city attorney John Juelson and engineer Charlie Vein to fine tune a joint powers agreement that will guide the partnership with the city, Traill Rural Water and the City of Mayville.

For several years, TRW has been courting the two cities to form a regional water system. The Clifford, N.D.-based water supplier had given the city a deadline of July 16 for a “yes” or “no” answer to the partnership offer. Under the proposal put forth by TRW and already accepted by Mayville leaders, a new wellfield near Galesburg will provide a new raw water source for Mayville and Hillsboro. The water will be piped to Mayville where a revamped water plant will treat water for city residents as well as TRW customers.

The same scenario has been proposed to Hillsboro, except that Hillsboro would build a completely new plant using new membrane softening technology to greatly improve the quality of water delivered to customers. The proposed 1,000 gpm plant would split the treated water— 60  percent for city use and 40 percent for TRW.

After months of discussion and study, city commissioners voted unanimously Monday to set the legal wheels in motion to formalize the deal. Commission president Kevin Burg, who owns Aqua Pure Water Solutions, a water softening business in Hillsboro, abstained from the vote.

The first legal step is to adopt a city ordinance — allowed by the city’s home rule charter — that gives the city commission the authority to approve construction without a vote of the people.

A first reading of the ordinance would be held Tuesday, June 24 at the commission’s reorganizational meeting. At that time, newly elected commissioner Charlie Stock will take over for outgoing commissioner Lessard. Tibert was also re-elected to a fourth four-year term.

Engineer Vein spent several minutes at Monday’s meeting reviewing details of the construction options with Stock. The new commissioner was present in the audience and asked several questions related to costs and treatment processes, referencing recent articles in the Hillsboro Banner.

According to published figures, TRW’s three-phase plan with Hillsboro and Mayville creates a regional water supply system at a cost of $22.4 million. With grant funds, the local cost is reduced to an estimated $6.7 million with a portion paid by each of the three entities — $3.2 million for TRW, $1.1 million for Mayville and $2.4 million for Hillsboro.

If Hillsboro were to join with TRW, a new plant is still at least two to five years away from reality, engineers agreed.

TRW has already received about $1 million in state  and federal grants to cover 70 percent of  Phase 1 and 2 improvements to its own system. If Hillsboro joins in Phase 3, TRW needs to factor that into its designs soon. The City of Mayville is already on board to work with TRW.

TRW indicated that Phase 3 funding has not been formally approved but typically once a project receives grant money through the MR&I fund, it is funded to completion.

Off and on for the past 10 years, Hillsboro city officials have discussed options to improve or replace the city’s water treatment plant, built in 1966.

If Hillsboro moves forward with “Option 3” on its proposal list —  a new regional plant using membrane technology — the estimate cost is $8 million. The project would be financed through state  MR&I grants (up to 70 percent) and by the city (30 percent). The local consumer, using about 7500 gallons per month, would see an estimated monthly bill of $44, which would cover the cost of water and the cost of construction and operation of the new plant.

gesichtet heute Morgen in der Metro...

Danke Schweini!

I have coached teams from tee ball to Mustang and am currently the PBF Mustang commissioner. If you participated in the Piedmont Baseball Foundation programs this spring, please take our season-end survey.

We are always trying to improve the program. Some of the things we try work, some don't. We want to hear from you how the season went for you and your child or children. We have questions about the league, your coaches, competitive programs, and the different divisions.

Please let us know what you think!

Take the Survey

--L

This will be a review and a discussion. It is to prepare you for a test.

We also will be covering, briefly, serving and slave paces.

As usual, the lesson will be held in the tent at the slave compund.

Das Fundstück des Tages in der allmorgenlichen Tageszeitung "Metro" (man beachte den Untertitel :D )